UPDATE 1-Microsoft shuts German distribution centre in patent row

MUNICH/AMSTERDAM, April 2 (Reuters) - Microsoft ismoving its European software distribution to the Netherlandsfrom Germany after being caught up in patent disputes withmobile phone and tablet maker Motorola Mobility Inc.

"We would have preferred to keep our European distributioncentre in Germany, where it has been for many years. Butunfortunately the risk from disruptions from Motorola's patentlitigation is simply too high," Microsoft spokesman ThomasBaumgaertner said on Monday.

He said the move was already in progress. So far, the U.S.software maker's distribution has been handled out of Germany byBertelsmann's services unit Arvato.

The news comes ahead of a German court decision expected onApril 17 in a suit brought against Microsoft by Motorola, whichis being bought by Google, for allegedly infringing avideo technology patent.

In a worst case scenario the court could ban Microsoft fromdistributing some of its biggest products such as Windows 7 fromGermany, thus affecting sales in other countries supplied by theGerman centre.

Germany has in recent months become a major battleground inthe global patent war between makers of mobile phones, tabletcomputer devices and their operating software in a market worthbillions of dollars.

German courts, among others, forced Korea's SamsungElectronics to stop selling its Galaxy 10.1 tabletin the country and told Apple Inc to de-activate "push"notification features for some customers in Germany.

In the upcoming decision, a regional court in Mannheim,Germany, is expected to decide whether Microsoft violated anagreement with Motorola by using certain video-compressionsoftware in products including Windows 7 and the Xbox 360videogame console.

German patent expert and blogger Florian Mueller said Dutchcourts do not hand down sales bans in patent disputes as readilyas German ones do.

"Instead, the courts evaluate whether an injunction is fairand reasonable," he said.